Abstract. The genetic interests of males and
females usually differ. Whenever female fitness
depends on an access to limited resources such as
male parental care, competitive interactions among
females are expected to evolve. There are
numerous studies reporting female-female aggression
during the breeding season, but this subject has not
been examined for the post-breeding period. Here we
examine female-female aggression in the Eurasian
Tree Sparrow Passer montanus occurring
during the autumn courtship period. We show that
aggressive behaviour between nest owners and
intruders is common and often fierce during the
post-breeding courtship period. Importantly, female
more frequently performs this behaviour than male
nest owners and it is sex- but not age-specific
(i.e. birds interfere with individuals of the same
sex, but regardless of their age). This study,
focusing on the post-breeding period, corroborates
the idea that female territorial aggression can be
involved in mate monopolization rather than simply
serving as a territory defence strategy. Moreover,
aggressive territorial behaviour of nest owners
towards intruders can also serve as a signal of mate
quality during the pair-formation period. We propose
that examining female territorial behaviours during
the post-breeding period can provide additional
insights into the causes of diversity in avian
mating systems.

Abstract. The Corncrake colonizes usually
mountain grasslands used for hay-cutting. The goal
of this work is to characterize effect of three
landscape elements – constructions, forest, and
roads – on localization of calling corncrake males.
From 2011 to 2015 I studied the distance of calling
males (n = 192) from nearest forest edge, building
and nearest road. An ANOVA model containing type of
landscape element and year in interaction explained
21.1% of the variability of observed males’distances
from the three landscape elements. The results
showed that calling males were statistically
significantly located closer to forests or roads but
further from constructions. The year of observation
did not affect the results. Thus as the largest risk
for the occurrence of species we may consider the
development of new constructions in an agricultural
landscape. For that reason, it can be important to
consider carefully every construction in Special
Protection Areas designed for Corncrake as the
fragmentation of favourable areas and habitats can
cause irreversible damage to local population.

Abstract. Density of the breeding population
of the White-throated Dipper (Cinclus cinclus)
was study in creeks and rivers of the four size
categories (“small creek” to “big river”) of the
Liptov and Orava regions (northern Slovakia).
Altogether 17 creeks and rivers (113 km) with the
nest boxes were monitored. There was found no
differences in the breeding density between the
streams of different sizes. Average breeding density
of the 83 monitored pairs reached 0.98 breeding
pairs per one km (0.8 – 1.1). The mean density of
the particular size of the stream was used for
estimation of the number (upper interval) of the
breeding birds at the non-monitored creeks or rivers
of that size. The lower interval was estimate
according to results of studies on Dipper breeding
density at the several Central European creeks and
rivers without nest boxes. Altogether 140 – 251
pairs should breeding in the study area of ca 1150
km2.

Abstract. The study provides the results of Apus
apus surveillance in the city of Košice in
2011 and 2013. Altogether, based on 369 observation
records collected during two years in different
areas of the city, we estimated the species
population at nearly 4300 individuals (density 27–81
individuals / 10 hectares). The highest abundace of
the species was recorded in urban areas “Sever” and
“Ťahanovce”. The dominant breeding habitats were
identified non-insulated concrete buildings with
various holes and fissures and with the eight-storey
buildings as most frequently used. As nest cavities,
the most often attic vents and joints between panels
of prefabricated buildings were recorded. Obtained
data provide an overview on the state of the species
in Košice within the 2011 and 2013 years and they
can also help in Apus apus protecting
against threats caused by an extensive building
renovations which currently taking place in Košice.

Abstract.
The
study is focused on breeding populations of birds
of prey (Pernis
apivorus, Accipiter
gentilis, Accipiter
nisus, Buteo buteo, Falco
subbuteo), Black Stork (Ciconia nigra)
and Common Raven (Corvus corax)
in forest complexes of Litovelské Pomoraví (93,186
km2, percentage of forest cover 57.9
%). In the period 2000–2005, altogether 213 large
tree nests of studied species were found. The
English Oak (Quercus robur), European Ash (Fraxinus
excelsior) and Common Alder (Alnus
glutinosa) were used most frequently for
nesting in the floodplain forest; the European
Larch (Larix
decidua), Sessile Oak (Quercus
petraea) and Common Alder in the Doubrava
and Třesín area. Majority (88.7%, n = 213) of the
nests were found in forest stands at the age of
81–140 years. 24 % of the nests were situated less
than 100 m from the forest edge and 73 % of the
nests less than 500 m from the forest edge. In
total, 249 cases of nesting attempts were
recorded, 227 of them (91.2%) were related to the
Common Buzzard, 5 to the Northern Goshawk, 2 to
the European Honey Buzzard, 6 to the Black Stork,
7 to the Common Raven, 1 to the Eurasian
Sparrowhawk and 1 to the Eurasian Hobby. The mean
distance between two occupied nests of the Common
Buzzard was 747 m (min. 91 m, median 623 m, max.
2225 m). In the Common Buzzard, breeding density
calculated for the whole study area (D) ranged
between 26.8 and 52.6 pairs/100 km2,
density calculated for the total area of forests
(Dles) ranged between 46.3 and 90.7
pairs/100 km2. In the Northern Goshawk,
the densities were D = 1.1–2.1 pairs/100 km2
and Dles = 1.9–3.7 pairs/100 km2,
in the European Honey Buzzard they were D = 2.1
pairs/100 km2 and Dles = 3.7
pairs/100 km2, in the Black Stork D =
2.1 pairs/100 km2 and Dles =
3.7 pairs/100 km2, in the Common Raven
D = 1.1–2.1 pairs/100 km2 and Dles
= 1.9–3.7 pairs/100 km2. Nest occupancy
ranged between 16.0 and 30.8%. Of the total number
of 227 breeding attempts of the Common Buzzard,
86.3% were successful. The mean number of fledged
juveniles in the Common Buzzard was 1.74 juveniles
per successful breeding attempt and 1.44 juveniles
per initiated breeding attempt. In the Common
Buzzard, the distance to the nearest occupied
nest, calculated for different numbers of
fledglings per breeding pair, did not differ
significantly, neither in individual years nor for
all years pooled.

Abstract. Avifauna of Levočské vrchy Mts,
Special Protection Area (SPA) since 2013, is
understudied due to military training area located
in the mountains in the second half of 20th century.
This paper reports data about bird species observed
in the eastern part of the range during last 50
years. Altogether 133 bird species were found in the
study area in 1964–2015. Of them 88.4% were breeding
species (13 extinct as breeding species), 3.9%
wintering species, 3.9% transmigrant species and 5.4
% occurred erratically. One of the most important
SPA in Slovakia for criterion species as Golden
Eagle, Black Stork and Corncrake. Intensive logging
due to windbreaks and bark beetle outbreaks has
substantially changed habitats for forest bird
species (Capercaillie, Black Stork) in the central
part of the mountains. Abandonment of management on
meadows in upper zone of mountains caused apparent
population decline of Black Grouse.Key words: Levočské vrchy Mts., birds,
faunistics, military training area, Natura 2000

Abstract. Bird assemblage of the Boky
National Nature Reserve, preserving the xerothermic
oak nature forest with forest-steppe sites, was
studied using a strip census method during breeding
period in 2015. The aim of the study was to describe
qualitative and quantitative structure of the bird
assemblage and to compare the bird assemblages’
structure during the past 50 years. Altogether, 48
breeding bird species were recorded in the reserve.
Total bird density reached 75.5 pairs/10 ha. Six
species were found to be dominant (>5% of the
total density): Fringilla coelebs, Ficedula
albicollis, Erithacus rubecula, Sturnus vulgaris,
Cyanistes caeruleus and Parus major,
representing 57% of the total density. Shannon index
of species diversity reached 4.61 bits. Anthus
trivialis, Emberiza citrinella, Dendrocopos
medius, Sylvia curruca, Jynx torquilla, Lanius
collurio, Carduelis carduelis, Upupa epops and
Picus viridis can be considered as
characteristic species of the xerothermic oak
forest-steppe habitats. Five species recorded in the
past (Bubo bubo, Caprimulgus europaeus, Monticola
saxatilis, Certhia brachydactyla and Phoenicurus
phoenicurus) were not confirmed during the
recent census. On the contrary, two species (Falco
peregrinus and Strix uralensis) are
new breeders in the reserve. Based on our data and
data from the same area taken during 1966–1999, the
reserve represents valuable natural habitat
preserving stable and diverse bird assemblages.

Veľké Kozmálovce 310, 935 21 Veľké Kozmálovce,
Slovensko; e-mail: jurobillmadar@gmail.comAbstract. The aim of this study was to
assess structure of birds on water reservoir Veľké
Kozmálovce. I examined species diversity, abundance
and frequency in 2012–2013 and compared them with
earlier study from 1998–2001. During two study
periods 125 species (29 breeding species, 37
hospites and 30 permigrants; 38 waterbirds, only 4
breeding waterbirds) were found at water reservoir.
Altogether 102 bird species were found in 2012–2013
(35 breeding, 24 hospites and 43 permigrant), of
them 43 species were waterbirds and only 4 species
were breeding waterbirds; 96 bird species were found
in 1998–2001 (29 breeding, 37 hospites and 30
permigrant), of them 38 species were waterbirds and
only 4 species were breeding waterbirds. In
2012–2013 I observed 19 birds listed in Red list of
birds in Slovakia there – 7 endangered (Anas
crecca, Aquila heliaca, Himantopus
himantopus, Recurvirostra avosetta, Gallinago
gallinago, Tringa totanus a Chlidonias
niger), 5 vulnerable and 7 near treated.
Seventy three species were registered in both
studies (2 breeding waterbirds), 23 species were
registered only in the first study and 29 bird
species were registered only during this study. The
most frequent species were Anas platyrhynchos (97.8%),
Ardea cinerea (81.1%) and Motacilla alba
(64.4%). The most dominant species were A.
platyrhynchos, Phalacrocorax carbo and
Mergus merganser. Two rare species were
registred, Himantopus himantopus and Recurvirostra
avosetta, too. This water reservoir has
regional importance for wintering species like A.
platyrhynchos, P. carbo and M.
merganser.

Abstract: The article describes unsuccessful
attempts of reintroduction of Barn Owl (Tyto alba)
in a farmyard in NW Slovakia between 2013 and 2015.
Altogether 16 individuals of Barn Owl were released
in three attempts. In 2015 one pair started to
breed, but nestlings died. By comparison of the
content of undigested pieces of food from the period
of intense feeding by chickens and lab mice to the
undigested pieces of food collected after they left
farmyard, adaptation to local food sources was
found.

Abstract. I present information about
ringing and recovery records for White Stork from
Slovakia. The situation with data registration at
Ringing Centre in Slovakia from 2002 to 2014 is not
satisfactory. This state is caused by a non-uniform
method of data processing and archiving and also by
irresponsibility of ringers to report data on time
and in required form. Thus, the index of recovery
records is not complete. I have obtained up to twice
higher number of recovery records for Slovakian
White Storks from ringing centres in neighbouring
countries than in the Slovak Ringing Centre. Every
year number of recovery data is increasing which is
directly related with colour-ringing and
specialization of field observers to read the data
of such ringed storks.

Abstract. In 2014, the Rarities Committee of
the Slovak Ornithological Society/BirdLife Slovakia
reviewed 69 records, of which 56 were accepted in
the category A, 1 in category C, 4 records in
category D and 3 breeding records. Two records were
rejected. First record of Paddyfield Warbler (Acrocephalus
agricola), first record of Oriental Turtle
Dove (Streptopelia orientalis), first
breeding record of Egyptian Goose (Alopochen
aegyptiaca), one record of Great Black-backed
Gull (Larus marinus), one record of Sandwich
Tern (Sterna sandvicensis) and one record of
Yellow-browed Warbler (Phylloscopus inornatus)
were the most interesting records in 2014. Rarities
Committee accepted also some other valuable
observations from the years 1998, 2001, 2004, 2008,
2011, 2013 and 2014. For example, in 2013 and 2014,
four records of Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis),
two records of Red-breasted Goose (Branta
ruficollis), four sightings of Canada Goose (Branta
canadensis), one record of Egyptian Goose (Alopochen
aegyptiaca), twenty records of Horned Grebe (Podiceps
auritus), one record of five individuals of
Red Knot (Calidris canutus), eight records of
European Herring Gull (Larus argentatus), one
record of Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica),
one record of Black-headed Wagtail (Motacilla
flava feldegg), two records of Citrine Wagtail
(Motacilla citreola), one record of Greenish
Warbler (Phylloscopus trochiloides), one
record of “tristis type” of Common
Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita), one
breeding record of Common Merganser (Mergus
merganser). Furthermore, there were two records of
Greater Spotted Eagle (Aquila clanga) in 2004
and 2008, eleven records of Pallid Harrier (Circus
macrourus) in 2011 and 2014, two sightings of
Eurasian Dotterel (Charadrius morinellus) in
1998 and 2014, four records of Rosy Starling (Pastor
roseus) in 2001, 2012 and 2014.